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Abiraterone

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Abiraterone (Zytiga®) is a new type of hormone therapy. It is suitable for men whose prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body (advanced prostate cancer) and has stopped responding to other hormone therapy treatments. It may help some men to live longer. It can also help control symptoms.

For more information on abiraterone, speak to your doctor or nurse, or call our Specialist Nurses.

Who can have abiraterone?

Abiraterone is suitable for men with advanced prostate cancer that has stopped responding to other hormone therapy and chemotherapy treatments. Abiraterone is available for these men on the NHS in the UK.

Abiraterone isn’t available on the NHS in England if you have already had enzalutamide. This is because NHS England - who are responsible for paying for these drugs in England - have said that they won’t pay for abiraterone for men who have already had enzalutamide. We don’t yet know whether the Cancer Drugs Fund will pay for these men to have abiraterone. If you have any trouble getting abiraterone, then please contact us.

Abiraterone is also effective in men who have stopped responding to hormone therapy but have not yet had chemotherapy. However, NICE have not recommended that it is available for these men, and it is not widely available in the UK. But if your doctor thinks it is suitable for you, they may be able to apply for you to get it. Read more about getting new treatments.

Second line hormone therapy and further treatment options

Hormone therapy can keep prostate cancer under control for months or years. But over time, cancer may start to grow again. If this happens, there are further treatments available. This may include other types of hormone therapy, chemotherapy or a new treatment as part of a clinical trial.

"Abiraterone is also effective in men who have stopped responding to hormone therapy but have not yet had chemotherapy." This comes from: Ryan CJ, Smith MR, de Bono JS, et al. Abiraterone in Metastatic Prostate Cancer without Previous Chemotherapy. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(2):138-148.